Federal budget fight could mean Purdue airport tower will close

As federal budget fight continues, smaller airports, including 6 in Indiana, given notice

11:44 PM,
Feb. 22, 2013

'When our pilots get hired at large airlines, they already know how to communicate with an FAA tower,' says Brian Faulkner, a senior at Purdue University. 'Without that experience, it's a big disadvantage.'

Written by

Bart Jansen
and Jessica Contrera

Purdue could be among 100 small airports to lose its control tower due to automatic spending cuts set to take effect March 1.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned Friday of massive delays in flights and the closing of smaller air traffic control towers nationwide next month.

Because of furloughs for air traffic controllers, LaHood said flights from New York to San Francisco could be delayed 90 minutes. Once airlines understand how flights are delayed, they will begin canceling flights, he said. ...